By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa has secured 889.8 billion rand in pledged investments towards its new 2 trillion-rand target for the next five years, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa was delivering a keynote address at the sixth edition of the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in Sandton, which drew 1 200 delegates from 50 countries.
The President outlined opportunities across a diverse range of sectors but emphasising that the ‘Three D’s’ of decarbonisation, digitisation and diversification would increasingly shape the country’s industrial strategy.
He also reiterated government’s claim that the first cycle, between 2018 and 2023, had yielded pledges of R1.5-trillion against a target of R1.2-trillion.
There remains much scepticism about the impact of those pledges, with critics pointing out that they failed to materially lift overall investment and employment levels over the period and that many of the projects were merely sustaining in nature.
Nonetheless, Ramaphosa used the previous SAIC gatherings to showcase South Africa as a viable investment destination even in difficult circumstances, with the first SAIC cycle having coincided with a period of extreme electricity disruptions, as well as the social and economic fallout associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Even amidst these strong headwinds, the South African economy has maintained core financial and institutional stability,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa argued that, underpinned by the ongoing reform momentum, the 2026 investment conference marked the “formal transition from recovery to expansion, from rebuilding confidence to accelerating growth”.
“A question is often asked: is this momentum of reform sustainable? Will we see it being sustained into the future? And my simple answer is, yes. The reform process that we are on now is irrevocable and irreversible, because it is in the interests of our economy and of our people.”
Ramaphosa said that, by ending inefficient monopolies and introducing competition, South Africa aimed to reduce the cost of electricity and transport over time, enabling manufacturing, mining, agriculture and other industries to thrive and to compete.
He affirmed the country has a sound policy and regulatory environment that offers certainty to investors at a time when many emerging markets are vying for capital globally.
Additionally, South Africa is a gateway for businesses looking to set up or expand their operations in Africa.
Delivering the welcome address, Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau struck an optimistic tone, positioning the country as a resilient and competitive destination for global investors despite a volatile international environment.
“Our message today is clear: South Africa is open, South Africa is ready, and South Africa is an investment destination of choice,” Tau said.
Tau also highlighted strengthened ties with Europe through the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, Ramaphosa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2025. The agreement has already unlocked an investment package of nearly R230 billion focused on energy transition, digital infrastructure and industrial development.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of SAIC.